Applied Immortality

The moment Geng Peng kneeled, the audience gasped. “Impossible!”

How did a Qi Refining cultivator not even a year in his cultivation defeat a five best Foundation Establishment cultivator?

The many restrictions imposed in this fight on this cultivator couldn’t rob him of his Foundation Establishment status, with experience and understanding beyond some freshman. Not to mention he used the mid Qi Refining level to fight.

Qi Refining disciples, ignorant to the battle’s subtle intricacies, knew this as well.

Geng Peng was kneeling without moving as Wang Qi released him to fall to the ground. Wang Qi stepped back, adjusted the loose strands of hair and struck a pose, one hand on his hip and the other pointing at him. “Ha-ha-ha! I won! What a fun duel!”

His outburst had the Foundation Establishment teaching assistants take out their magic items in haste. “He’s too reckless. If Geng Peng had flipped, he’d be dead after using Foundation Establishment power!”

Su Junyu also had a card ready.

…

Geng Peng’s thoughts were scrambled due to Celestial Entropy, forgetting where he was and what he was doing. Memories blended with events in a jumbled mess.

But through the haze, he heard that insufferable cackle.

Geng Peng had a reflexive aversion towards it.

“I won! What a fun duel!”

The weird wording could never hide the exuberance and smugness behind them.

[This punk…]

Geng Peng wanted to look up and see who it was, but Li Ziye suddenly came to mind that made him sad.

The lively and cheerful Senior Brother Li…

All that happened came rushing in and Geng Peng sighed. “You won, I lost.”

“I lost.” He repeated with conviction.

Geng Peng’s eyes regain their tranquility. He sized Wang Qi, the youthful spirit dazzling in his eyes.

Geng Peng recalled Su Junyu’s words.

“Senior Brother Li’s path is to direct all the world’s games to a reach balance and harmony, a positive result. Balance, mutual benefit, win-win, or taking a minor hit to deal a decisive blow to the enemy. It also includes a higher ideal—may I suffer a bit so that others can prosper. Had he not weighed his life when Wang Qi’s was threatened, then he wouldn’t have been Myriad Arts Sect’s Li Ziye.”

“The sky’s the limit for Wang Qi.”

Geng Peng sat there, relieved.

[Senior Brother, was this your choice?]

Wang Qi stared at his impassive reaction. “Holy shit, did Celestial Entropy scramble your brain? Don’t tell me you got a kick out of it.”

[I take it back. You still chose  wrong, Senior Brother…]

Geng Peng lamented as he floated over to his fellow Foundation Establishment teaching assistants and noticed the familiar blue robe of the Myriad Arts Sect.

…

Su Junyu smiled as Geng Peng regained his calm and put away the card while telling the others to not mention his presence here, leaving for the storeroom.

He was pleased by the outcome.

His attention freed, Su Junyu returned to reading his book. As he walked, a he noticed a red skirt swishing in the corner of his eye.

“Tch, using Geng Peng to train Wang Qi and using Wang Qi to strengthen Geng Peng’s resolve. Well played, moneybags.”

A girl in red jumped in front.

“Well I’m not a meatbrain like you.” Su Junyu flipped a page. “Taking in their characters and the various conditions, a results was derived; a basic deduction. I happened to be at the right place and the right tame, triggering the event.”

Xang Qi laughed, “Who knew you could act the caring Senior Brother, when you’re not being a weirdo. Both Myriad Arts Sect disciples got something from this fight.”

“We’ve all been through it.” Su Junyu sighed. “Passing the torch, out with the old and in with the new. The fire lives on.”

Su Junyu spoke an ancient quote, particularly about generational inheritance.

Xiang Qi’s eyes dimmed. “Senior Brother Li…”

“A dying fire can easily be swept away.”

The two fell silent. The loss of a friend was hard to bear, even harder to speak of. Xiang Qi changed topics. “What are you reading?”

Su Junyu showed her the book cover. Xiang Qi read, “Celestial Chess Theory?”

“It’s an anthology of Myriad Arts disciples’ research in Celestial Chess Computation alongside Senior Neumann’s.”

Xiang Qi jolted. “Weren’t you cultivating White Marsh Algorithm? Why go with Celestial Chess Computation?”

Su Junyu shook his head. “I hit a wall.”

“Wall? Shouldn’t you be working harder on White Marsh Algorithm instead?”

Su Junyu hardened his expression. “That’s not it. My system theory feels lacking.”

…

Wang Qi followed Geng Peng to the Arts Archive’s entrance. The entrance sported an extra Eight Trigrams Seal. Geng Peng placed his hand on it and the seal flashed. “Hey kid, take out your immortal tag.”

The immortal item was a pendant working just like an ID. Wang Qi wore it on his waist. He did as Geng Peng said and the Eight Trigrams Seal flashed. “I can’t believe this thing’s also a calculator with access to the All-immortal Realm—is the registration done?”

Geng Peng humphed.

Wang Qi shook his head. “Whatever. You still have to follow the rules and guide me to get my cheat. But if you hate me so much, why not let me go alone?”

Geng Peng glared. “And copy the rest on the sly? I can’t leave you out of my sight.”

Despite the fire in his words, it lacked the usual malice.

Wang Qi kept to himself as he followed Geng Peng to the first floor.